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Power Outages

Connecting Points

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Today’s Topic: Filled with Power

Today’s Text:Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit)…Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power… Acts 6:5a and 8a

Stephen’s faith was correctly placed in Jesus Christ. He had completely experienced God’s grace. He was overflowing with the fullness of the Holy Spirit. And as a result, he was filled with God’s power.

My mind is filled with so much today that I am simply going to bullet point some truths for you so I don’t get wordy and long. Contemplate each statement and let the Holy Spirit teach you the lessons you can apply to your own life.

Faith and grace must always be our focus ahead of power. Power produces pride if not held in the context of faith and grace.

We must be in love with the God who gives power and not the power God gives. The love of power will quickly become an idol and set itself up against an honest knowledge of God.

The Scriptures clearly describe the application of power to our lives. Don’t be confused by emotionalism or public displays of what appears to be supernatural abilities. These are the things the Scripture say are the working of the power of God in our lives.

1. That we may experience Jesus Christ living in and through us.

Ephesians 3:16-17a I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

2. To know the fullness of the love of God and be filled with Him.

Ephesians 3:17b-19 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

3. To participate in the divine nature and escape evil desires.

2 Peter 1:3-4 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

4. To know we are secure in Christ.

1 Peter 1:5 Through faith we are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

5. That we may stand up against any and all opposition and even suffer for Christ’s sake.

2 Timothy 1:7-8 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,

Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

6. That we may live by faith alone and bring glory to Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

7. That we might patiently endure all things with thanksgiving and joy.

Colossians 1:11-12 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified youto share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

8. That we may resist the power of sin.

Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

9. That we may be servants of the Gospel

Ephesians 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.

10. That we might bring glory to God even when we are weak.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But God said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

I challenge you to truly study these verses. It may be that you have been looking for the wrong evidence of God’s power at work in your life.